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1 Tswaing Meteorite Crater TSWAING METEORITE CRATER PO Box 4197, Pretoria 0001, South Africa Mobile: 076 945-5911 AFRICA’S ONLY METEORITE CRATER MUSEUM: EXPLORING THE PAST, PROTECTING THE PRESENT, SERVING THE FUTURE A museum of Ditsong Museums of South Africa, Gauteng Province WHAT IS TSWAING? Tswaing, meaning Place of Salt in Setswana, is a 2000-hectare heritage site, some 40 km north-west of Central Pretoria, surrounded by settlements inhabited by more than a million people, such as Winterveld, Soshanguve, Mabopane and Nuwe Eersterus. It falls within the Gauteng Province, borders on North-West Province and is part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. The main features of Tswaing are a 220 000-year old meteorite impact crater (100 m deep and 1,3 km across), a wetland (marsh) area, a variety of ecosystems and the remains of a factory that produced soda ash and salt. In geological terms, the Tswaing Crater represents one of the youngest and best-preserved small bowl-shaped meteorite impact craters in the world. It used to be known as the Pretoria Saltpan. Tswaing is a sensitive and unique conservation area for the careful and sustainable management of its multiple cultural and natural heritage resources in the disciplines of geology, the environmental sciences, biology and human history. Strong emphasis is placed on the protection and use of the area’s natural and cultural heritage for research, environmental education, recreation and community empowerment. This is achieved in close consultation with local communities, scientists, conservation agencies, private sector businesses and national, provincial and metropolitan government institutions. WHAT CAN YOU EXPERIENCE AT TSWAING? · A 7.2-km Tswaing Crater Trail, one of only few meteorite hiking trails in the world, which takes you to the crater floor. You can hire a local guide or walk on your own. The duration of the walk is about 3 hours. The more difficult parts of the trail are those sections going into the crater and back. Interesting points along the route are marked and explained by signboards. · Displays on Tswaing’s natural and cultural history. · Guided crater walks for school, adult, family and other groups (by prior arrangement with the staff at Tswaing). · One of the best birding spots in Gauteng, with some 240 recorded species. · Game such as kudu, impala, hartebeest and zebra. Smaller mammals like vervet monkeys and mongoose, and a variety of reptiles, amphibians and insects. · The grandeur of the crater itself 1 VISITOR FACILITIES AND SERVICES · Picnic site · Toilets · Safe drinking water · Safe parking · Popular book on Tswaing for sale @ R100,00 · Group accommodation (maximum 64 persons) in Kgotla, consisting of four rondavel-type units in four ethnic styles, each sleeping 16 persons, clustered around a central boma, with kitchen and ablution facilities. Prior reservations are essential. This facility is also available on a daily basis for meetings and other group activities. PUBLIC HOURS · Open: Every day of the year except December 25th and January 1st · Public hours: 07:30 – 16:00 daily (last visitors must be out by 18:00) TARIFFS Entrance Adults R20.00, children R10.00 and pensioners R15.00 Prices include: Self-guided walk along hiking trail, trail pamphlet, museum display and picnic site. Guided trail walk General: Cost for a guide for a hike to and around the crater – lasting approximately 3 hours: · Groups 1 – 20 people R 200,00 per guide. · Groups of 21 people and above R 250,00 per guide. School groups: Entrance is R 10,00 per learner and 1 teacher is free per 30 learners. · Prices include: guided walk along trail, trail pamphlet, museum display, picnic site. · Minimum group size: 30 learners. · If the group is smaller than 30 learners and would like a guide the guide is R 200,00 extra. · Special rates can be negotiated. Hire of facilities for meetings, promotions and conferences · By prior arrangements · Daily: per venue R 3500.00 per day · Half of the deposit is payable at least two weeks prior to the event and the remainder is payable upon arrival. · Prices include: Entry fees, self-guided crater walk (optional), daily use of picnic site or Kgotla (the latter if available). · Own catering to be provided. · Special tariffs or waivers by prior arrangement with the Deputy Director. 2 Overnight accommodation · Kgotla: R50,00 per adult per night and R30,00 per child per night. (prices exclude a once-off entrance fee of R20.00 per adult, R15.00 per pensioner and R10.00 per child · A key deposit of R250,00 per group is payable upon arrival. This will be refunded immediately if Kgotla is found to be in a satisfactory condition after being vacated. · Camping: R30,00 per adult per night and R20,00 per child per night. (Prices exclude a once-off entrance fee) · Prices include: Use of sleeping, ablution and catering facilities, firewood (mattresses are provided). · Bring own food, utensils, towels and bedding.. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING · All visitors and other clients must first report to the reception office. · Please insist on an official receipt when paying. · Right of admission is reserved. · Admittance is at own risk. · No motor vehicles are allowed inside the crater. · Abide with the rules and regulations (will be provided at the reception office or upon request). · Wear a hat, comfortable footwear, sun block cream, bring a bottle of water. CONTACT DETAIL · Deputy Director: Mrs Julia Barnes 079 829 5464 · Site Manager: Inus Swart 083 505 2271 · Reception: 012 000 0041 or 076 9455 911 · Fax: 086 210 4947 · Recommended postal address: PO Box 4197, Pretoria 0001 · Physical address: West of Road M35 (Tswaing or Old Soutpan Road), 30 km north of Onderstepoort where this road starts · E-Mail: [email protected] or [email protected] ENJOY YOUR VISIT TO TSWAING! 3 .
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